NORTH RONALDSAY - 29th September

Still good conditions, bright and dry but the we lost the east out of the wind which picked up a touch and moved into the north; there was again though a reduction in migrant numbers but still a good spread of birds and a sprinkling of scarcities.   Highlights included the male Grey-headed Wagtail again, 2 Barred Warblers – the Quoybanks bird still and a new one seen at Holland, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Red-backed Shrikes – birds trapped at The Obs and at Ancum (one of which is presumably the long-staying bird but I don’t know which!) and the Shorelark again at Bewan – again we’re presuming it’s the over-summering bird but it hasn’t been seen for three weeks…   Other migrant totals comprised 8 Herons, 142 Wigeon, 141 Teal, single Hen Harrier, Kestrel and Peregrine, 3 Merlins, a Ruff, 6 Jack Snipe, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Woodpigeons, a Long-eared Owl seen at Ancum at dusk, 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Tree Pipits, 39 Robins, 19 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, 46 Wheatear, 69 Song Thrush, 51 Redwing, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 17 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warblers, 10 Goldcrest, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher, 10 Chaffinches, 13 Reed Buntings, a Lapland Bunting and an influx of 32 Snow Buntings.    Also of note during a look offshore were 3 Sooty Shearwaters, a Manx Shearwater and a Puffin while a late Hummingbird Hawkmoth was at Holland.

Reed Bunting

Silver Y

Willow Warbler